1. Humanity’s Fall and Satan’s Strategy
Pastor David Jang emphasizes the need to focus on Genesis 3 and 4 because it is there that we see precisely how humanity fell into sin and where its roots originated. Genesis 1 and 2 record God’s creation of the entire universe. God created light amid darkness, separated the heavens and the earth, formed the seas and the land, and created all manner of living creatures. At the pinnacle of this creation, God made human beings—male and female in His image. This forms the core of Genesis 1 and 2.
According to Pastor David Jang, understanding Genesis 1 and 2 properly is a prerequisite for comprehending the subsequent fall of humanity in Genesis 3 and the issue of Cain, Adam’s descendant, in Genesis 4. Unless we first recognize that God’s creation was originally good and complete—free of sin and death—we cannot discern how things went wrong, how corruption entered, and what precisely changed.
However, as we move into Genesis 3, an entirely unexpected figure appears. Described as “the serpent, which was more crafty than any other beast of the field which the Lord God had made,” it approaches Adam and Eve and asks, “Did God really say you must not eat from any tree in the garden?” This question injects doubt into their hearts. Pastor David Jang points out that this is the critical moment where humanity meets Satan: Will human beings obey “what God said,” or will they set up their own standard and disobey? That becomes the decisive fork in the road.
The serpent tells Eve, “You will not surely die.” This is an outright lie, yet at the same time a most seductive declaration. Since God had said, “You must not eat from the tree of the knowledge of good and evil. For when you eat of it, you will surely die,” anyone who trusted that command would naturally experience a sense of fear and caution. However, the serpent dismantles that caution and instead incites Eve: “Not only will you not die, but you will become like God.” Pastor David Jang explains that this passage reveals how Satan operates—he completely twists God’s Word for his own evil ends. He often uses seemingly plausible logic or self-serving interpretations to lure believers away from a God-centered life into a self-centered existence.
Pastor David Jang then draws attention to Eve’s reaction in Genesis 3. When she sees the forbidden fruit, it appears “good for food and pleasing to the eye, and also desirable for gaining wisdom.” In this, we observe a sequence of temptation: first the visual stimulation (“seeing”), then the physical engagement (“taking”), and finally the personal act (“eating”). Sin often begins with a small curiosity but eventually taints the whole person, leading ultimately to spiritual death.
Here, Pastor David Jang closely links the Lord’s Prayer petition, “Lead us not into temptation,” noting that one of the greatest temptations humans face is pride—an ambition to take the place of God. This is precisely the area Satan exploits most sharply. Human beings were created as God’s creatures who must obey His Word to enjoy His blessing. Yet the moment we try to judge good and evil on our own—setting ourselves up as the standard—we fall prey to the serpent’s temptation. This, Pastor David Jang emphasizes, is the core issue.
Within the unfolding narrative of Genesis 3, Adam and Eve ultimately eat the forbidden fruit. The first sign of their fall is the feeling of shame toward each other: They recognize they are naked and cover themselves with fig leaves. Also, when they hear God walking in the garden, they become afraid and hide. This portrays with crystal clarity the consequences of sin. Sin begets shame before God, leads humans to devise their own defense mechanisms (fig-leaf coverings), and ultimately drives them away from God’s presence (hiding).
By the end of Genesis 3, decisive judgment is pronounced: “You are dust, and to dust you shall return,” and God prevents humanity from reaching out to the tree of life and living forever. These passages highlight the tragic outcome resulting from “disobedience” and “self-centered pride.” Satan’s greatest lie was, “You will not surely die,” whereas the ultimate reality is that humanity did indeed come to face certain death. Pastor David Jang stresses that we must remember this truth: Humanity’s fall did not end with Eve eating the fruit; it became “original sin” for all humanity, affecting everyone born into this world.
Moving on to Genesis 4, we encounter the story of Cain, Adam’s descendant, who becomes so envious of his brother Abel that he commits murder. This is a stark illustration of how quickly self-centered desire can spread and bear the horrific fruit of sin and death. Pastor David Jang interprets Cain’s fall as “the further expansion of Satan’s work of corruption.” Whereas Genesis 3 addresses sin on a personal level, Genesis 4 shows how that sin progresses to murder between brothers, thereby spreading broadly across humanity. Once sin entered, the human heart became increasingly susceptible to “the serpent’s lies,” leading ultimately to the extreme crime of fratricide.
If we read Genesis 4 carefully, it becomes clear how self-absorbed Cain’s actions are. When he offers a sacrifice, Scripture says God “did not look with favor on Cain and his offering.” There are various interpretations of why God might not have accepted Cain’s offering, but Pastor David Jang emphasizes looking at Cain’s underlying motivation. It is likely he was driven by an attitude of “I’ll worship God in my own way.” If his heart’s focus had never truly been on God, but rather on self-gratification or mere duty, then it is not surprising the Lord was displeased with his offering. Consequently, his envy and anger drive him to commit the grave sin of killing his brother Abel.
The message for us today in these narratives from Genesis 3 and 4 is clear. Sin often begins with a subtle doubt, but once that seed is sown in the heart and left unchecked, it quickly escalates into pride, false interpretations, and self-centered judgments. Ultimately, humanity reaps spiritual death, conflict with others, and even murder. Pastor David Jang insists that every believer must understand the origins of this fall very plainly, in order to appreciate more deeply that Jesus Christ came to resolve these problems. Through a proper understanding of Genesis 3 and 4, we come to a deeper realization of the saving work of Christ.
Pastor David Jang explains that unless humans rightly grasp the root of their sin, they cannot comprehend how miraculous and loving Christ’s atonement and sacrifice on the cross truly are. We moved far from God’s original plan for us, but God sent His own Son to restore that plan. This tremendous work of salvation is at the heart of the gospel. In Philippians 2, Jesus directly overturns the serpent’s temptation to “become like God” by “making Himself nothing and taking the very nature of a servant.” Though He is God, He humbled Himself to the point of death, thus defeating the pride that Satan fosters. Therefore, salvation is found in “abandoning pride, humbling ourselves, and following Christ’s example.”
In this context, Pastor David Jang says the reason we study Genesis 3 and 4 is to discern Satan’s strategies and identify humanity’s weak points. The next step is to acknowledge these vulnerabilities and repent before the Lord, so that we will not succumb to the serpent’s temptation any longer. Daily meditation on God’s Word, living in the light within a faith community, and continual self-examination are essential to avoiding spiritual error. In that process, we must always ask, “Does God truly desire this?” and consistently pray, “Lord, lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from the evil one,” as we guard our hearts. Since pride is Satan’s most potent weapon—capable of triggering all manner of sin and downfall—believers must remain vigilant in prayer, humbling themselves before God. This is Pastor David Jang’s core message.
2. The Identity of Satan and the Fallen Angels
Pastor David Jang explains that the serpent in Genesis 3 ultimately corresponds to “Satan,” “the devil,” “the dragon” revealed in Revelation 12. The serpent is no mere symbolic animal, but the head of the fallen angelic hosts who rebelled against God. Understanding Genesis 3’s serpent in merely natural, animal terms misses the overall point of Scripture’s story of salvation. Satan, Lucifer, the devil, the serpent, the one who deceives the whole world—these various names appear throughout the Bible, yet they refer to the same figure. This being, originally part of God’s creation, rebelled out of pride and tried to “be like the Most High,” causing him and his angelic followers to fall.
Pastor David Jang notes that Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28, which speak figuratively about the “king of Babylon” and “king of Tyre,” also point to the image of a “fallen angel” standing behind those human kings. In Isaiah 14, we read: “How you have fallen from heaven, morning star, son of the dawn! You have been cast down to the earth, you who once laid low the nations!” The term “morning star” (in the Latin Vulgate, Lucifer) hints that he had once been a high-ranking angel near God, reflecting divine glory. Nevertheless, he nurtured in his heart the ambition, “I will ascend the throne above the stars of God; I will make myself like the Most High.” This reveals Satan’s fundamental sin—his pride—and it is the primary reason for his downfall.
Similarly, Ezekiel 28 uses a metaphor of the king of Tyre, describing one who was “the anointed cherub who covers” and dwelled in Eden before being cast down along with others. This suggests that the “original fall” transpired first in the angelic realm, even before humanity sinned. Pastor David Jang states, “Through Scripture, we understand that not only did humanity fall, but there exists a spiritual adversary seeking to deceive and bring down humanity,” which is why the church must engage in spiritual warfare.
In Revelation 12, a “great dragon” is hurled down, identified as “that ancient serpent called the devil, or Satan, who leads the whole world astray.” We are also told that this dragon’s tail swept a third of the stars from the sky. Many interpret this to mean that a third of the angels followed him into rebellion. Satan did not fall alone; a significant portion of the heavenly hosts fell with him, and these fallen angels exercise influence as “the rulers of the kingdom of the air,” continually tempting and deceiving humanity, often working through earthly rulers and powers. Ephesians 6:12 expresses this truth: “Our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world, and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms.”
Pastor David Jang warns that if we fail to recognize this spiritual realm, we might reduce much of the world’s troubles merely to human conflicts or institutional flaws, overlooking the deeper reality. Satan looks for opportunities to infiltrate human rulers and evil systems, inciting oppression and violence. When Pharaoh oppressed Israel, or when the kings of Babylon or Assyria conquered and slaughtered surrounding nations, it was Satan’s nature—pride and violence—at work behind the scenes.
In these instances, Satan always seeks to exalt himself and foster idolatry. Many idols found in the Old Testament function as outlets for Satan to appropriate the worship and glory that belong to God alone. Baal worship encouraged sexual depravity; Molek worship demanded the horrific sacrifice of children; the golden calf represented a cult of wealth and materialism. Pastor David Jang highlights that behind every idol stands “Satan’s pride and violence.” He diverts the adoration owed to God and instead entices humanity to bow before idols—whether they be a golden calf or any other false deity. The people would foolishly dance before the golden calf or even burn their children for Molek, all while being ensnared by Satan’s deception.
Such deception is not limited to the Old Testament. It extends to the New Testament and persists to this day. After Jesus fasted for forty days in the wilderness, Satan appeared to tempt Him with three propositions: “Turn these stones into bread, since You are the Son of God,” “Throw Yourself down from the pinnacle of the temple; the angels will catch You,” and “Bow down to me, and I will give You all the kingdoms of this world.” Pastor David Jang observes that these temptations align with Satan’s universal strategies: appealing to physical appetites (hunger), fame or prestige (dramatic miracles), and material power or authority (the kingdoms of the world). In every instance, Jesus countered with Scripture, responding with “It is written…”—thereby dismissing Satan’s deceit. Ultimately, the devil left, and angels came and attended Jesus. This episode demonstrates the power of knowing and obeying God’s Word; it is the key to breaking free from the pride and greed Satan instigates.
Pastor David Jang asserts that such spiritual warfare continues today. Whenever we consciously or unconsciously assume God’s role—judging good and evil from our own perspective—we align ourselves with Satan’s logic. This can happen even within the church. The Pharisees and scribes resisted Jesus, refused to acknowledge His authority, and even accused Him of being demon-possessed or of violating the Sabbath. Though they appeared religious, they were in reality siding with Satan. Jesus confronted them, calling them “a brood of vipers,” and warning them they could not escape damnation. On the other hand, Jesus extended salvation to prostitutes and tax collectors who recognized their sin and repented, thereby experiencing His grace and mercy.
Jude 1:6–7 mentions the fallen angels who “did not keep their own domain, but abandoned their proper abode,” and thus are kept in “eternal bonds under darkness.” Some fallen angels were immediately bound; others still wander and tempt humanity as evil spirits. In Job 1 and 2, Satan appears as “the accuser,” saying, in effect, “Job only fears God because of the blessings You’ve given him. Take away his wealth and health, and he’ll curse You.” God permits Job to be tested, and Job undergoes extreme suffering, illustrating that Satan’s accusations and hardships can sometimes be allowed in the lives of believers. Yet Job never curses God; he continues to trust the Lord amid his trials, proving Satan’s accusations baseless. Pastor David Jang sees this narrative as an example of why God does not immediately annihilate Satan or the fallen angels. When Satan insists, “Humans only love You for selfish reasons,” God allows suffering so genuine faith may be revealed.
From the human perspective, this can be both painful and difficult to comprehend. Pastor David Jang acknowledges that we might lament, “Why doesn’t God just get rid of Satan?” However, looking at the end of Job, we see Job deepening his understanding of God, ultimately restored and blessed beyond his former condition. Through suffering and trials, if we remain armed with God’s Word and prayer, we can cast off “Satan’s accusations” and attain victory. This is precisely the meaning behind “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” in the Lord’s Prayer. Pastor David Jang emphasizes, “We cannot avoid all trials, but we can pray for God’s help to overcome them.”
Ultimately, Satan (Lucifer, “son of the dawn”) is a fallen angel who left his rightful position, and he roams the earth seeking whom he may devour. Yet at the same time, his defeat is assured by the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ. Pastor David Jang urges believers never to forget that. In Luke 10, Jesus says, “I saw Satan fall like lightning from heaven.” He has already incurred a decisive defeat. Believers, therefore, have authority in the name of Jesus to resist Satan. However, this authority is granted only to those who humbly submit to and obey Christ. If Satan’s downfall came through “pride,” then believers will overcome by following Christ’s path of “humility and submission.”
3. The Believer’s Response and Spiritual Victory
In conclusion, Pastor David Jang insists that believers must rely on the teachings of Christ and the power of the Holy Spirit to oppose Satan’s dominion and emerge victorious. The accounts in Genesis 3 and 4 of humanity’s fall, Isaiah 14 and Ezekiel 28’s depiction of Satan’s arrogance and judgment, the trials of Job, and Revelation 12’s description of cosmic warfare, all tie into God’s redemptive plan. In the New Testament, we see definitively that God sent His Son to rescue humanity and liberate us from Satan’s lies. Jesus Christ came as the “second Adam,” overturning the failure of the first Adam. He rejected every temptation from Satan and offered Himself on the cross as the perfect sacrifice for sin. Pastor David Jang interprets this “victory of the gospel” as the reason we must pray, “Lead us not into temptation.” It is at once a privilege and a necessity for God’s people.
When we pray in the Lord’s Prayer, “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil,” it is akin to saying, “God, protect me from the serpent’s seduction and Satan’s deception. By Your Holy Spirit, restrain the pride and self-centered desires that writhe within me.” Pastor David Jang teaches that believers should offer this prayer daily, since even seasoned churchgoers harbor that “Satanic DNA” of pride within them. Whenever our pride awakens, we must return to the humble position of confessing, “Lord, I step down from the throne of my heart. You alone are the Master of my life.”
Yet this journey is by no means easy. Even Jesus prayed at Gethsemane, “My Father, if it is possible, let this cup be taken from Me. Yet not as I will, but as You will.” Pastor David Jang points out that this prayer reveals the very heart of Christian discipleship. True obedience involves laying aside “my will” in favor of “God’s will,” which is rarely simple. In such moments, Satan often launches fierce attacks on our weaknesses, whispering promises to “solve all our problems at once” or “this is acceptable, just a small compromise.” Believers must respond as Jesus did: “Not My will, but Yours be done.” Though that is never easy in practice, we grow stronger by praying daily, meditating on Scripture, and seeking guidance in the church community. We continue to fight the good fight of faith.
Pastor David Jang teaches, “By our very nature, we are mere creatures before God and should therefore humble ourselves. Yet Satan constantly incites us to take the throne ourselves, to judge good and evil, to be our own god. Pride seems sweet and alluring, but it leads only to destruction and spiritual death. Humility’s path may appear narrow and challenging, but it leads ultimately to eternal life and resurrection glory. Jesus walked that path and was resurrected. We must follow Him.” This parallels Philippians 2:6–11, which speaks of having the mind of Christ Jesus. Although Jesus was in very nature God, He humbled Himself, taking the form of a servant and obeying to the point of death, so God exalted Him to the highest place. This humility and obedience comprise the very essence of Christlikeness—something Satan cannot imitate, and which stands at the heart of the Kingdom of God.
Nevertheless, merely grasping these truths intellectually can still leave us vulnerable to Satan’s snares. Pastor David Jang therefore stresses the necessity of being “filled with the Spirit” and “filled with the Word.” When Satan tested Jesus in the wilderness, the Lord responded each time with Scripture from Deuteronomy, declaring, “It is written…” We likewise must acknowledge the sinful nature displayed in Genesis 3 and 4, praying, “God, I am weak. Satan has sown pride and greed in my heart. But let Your Word perfect me; deliver me from temptation.” When we diligently examine ourselves in the light of Scripture and continually repent of self-centered motives, pride loses its grip, and we can instead make God-centered decisions.
Another point Pastor David Jang highlights is, “We are not alone. We have the church community.” Satan frequently seeks to isolate individuals, luring them into temptation when they struggle alone, worry alone, or attempt solutions alone. In isolation, we easily drift from God’s Word. But by sharing our burdens with trusted believers—pastors, small group leaders, or brothers and sisters in Christ—we bring issues into the light. Darkness cannot remain where God’s light shines. Confession, mutual encouragement, and intercession leave Satan little room to operate. As the Book of James says, “Confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed.” This principle drives away darkness.
Especially when believers recite and pray the Lord’s Prayer together, it becomes evident how powerful the phrase “Lead us not into temptation, but deliver us from evil” is. Given that Jesus Himself taught this prayer, it carries profound spiritual significance. When the entire church unites in this prayer, the Holy Spirit brings comfort and power. Pastor David Jang declares, “The Lord’s Prayer is both a corporate prayer of the church and a personal prayer for each believer. The church must be a unified spiritual army opposing Satan.” Through ongoing discipline in prayer and Scripture, believers come to experience the practical victory of overcoming sin and pride in daily life.
In sum, studying Genesis 3 and 4 is foundational for believers who must remain spiritually vigilant. Satan exploits human vulnerability by tempting us to decide good and evil for ourselves—this is the essence of pride. Yet Jesus overturned this path of pride through His complete humility, “obedient to death, even death on a cross.” By sharing in Jesus’ victory, we can stand against Satan. Through fervent prayer—“Lead us not into temptation; deliver us from evil”—and by abiding in the Word, we keep Satan from regaining a foothold.
Pastor David Jang states, “Our battle is a war already won. The Lord has demolished ‘all pride’ and paid our penalty for sin. Yet as long as we dwell in this flesh on earth, we must remain alert, for Satan prowls like a roaring lion seeking whom he may devour. There is no need to fear, though, because the Lord of Light is with us, and darkness cannot overcome Him.” When believers apply this assurance daily, they can rebuke Satan’s schemes and walk in freedom from sin. In other words, while Christ has already secured the final victory, we must still engage in continuous devotion to the Word and prayer to make that victory our own.
Hence, human beings must repent of their original sin of trying to “be like God,” trust in the redemptive work of Christ on the cross, and rely on the Spirit to pursue holiness. According to Pastor David Jang, this encapsulates the core message of Christian doctrine and the primary key to the Christian life. “Let this mind be in you which was also in Christ Jesus” (Philippians 2)—this, above all, is the supreme weapon for overcoming Satan’s temptations. Jesus was never proud but remained obedient to the end; thus He triumphed. Therefore, believers must regularly examine themselves lest they fall into self-righteousness or fanaticism. In every circumstance, we acknowledge that “God alone is the Judge of good and evil,” while we, as creatures, children, and stewards, serve in obedience to His will.
Finally, Pastor David Jang cautions believers not to veer into either extreme of fearing Satan excessively or disregarding his existence altogether. Indeed, Satan is our enemy who tempts us, often manipulating earthly powers, so we must remain on guard. Simultaneously, we have no cause to fear him, for in Christ we have sure victory. “A person who knows the humility of Jesus, boldly proclaims His Word, and obeys that Word in serving and loving cannot be overtaken by Satan,” he concludes. This underscores once more the power of the Lord’s Prayer. The final doxology, “For thine is the kingdom, and the power, and the glory, forever,” affirms who the true Sovereign is.
Altogether, the narrative of humanity’s fall in Genesis 3 and 4 does not remain a mere ancient event. It exemplifies our present human condition—how pride and disobedience can infiltrate and yield destructive consequences. Yet at the same time, Scripture declares God’s astonishing gift of salvation through Jesus Christ, who utterly conquers Satan’s schemes and leads us into His eternal kingdom. Thus Pastor David Jang emphasizes, “If we follow the Lord’s example, choosing humility over pride, obedience over disobedience, and light over darkness, we will overcome temptation day by day, ultimately inheriting eternal life.”
From this we understand that every believer must take seriously the Lord’s Prayer petition, “Lead us not into temptation.” Pastor David Jang says, “We must be fortified by God’s Word and prayer, remain in fellowship within the light of the church community, and bar the door against pride.” When we do so, Satan, though he may rage from the corners of history, cannot ultimately obstruct our path, because he is a defeated foe. Today’s world may be chaotic and values may be diverse, and even the church may face confusion. Yet if we stand firmly on Scripture, recognizing that “it is God, not man, who determines good and evil,” we will find the truth sets us free.
The conclusion Pastor David Jang seeks to convey is straightforward: “Reflect daily on Genesis 3 and 4. Do not forget Isaiah 14, Ezekiel 28, and Revelation 12’s depiction of Satan’s pride and downfall, the trials in Job, and the temptations Jesus overcame in the wilderness. Recite the Lord’s Prayer diligently and make it your own, praying in reality that ‘we may not fall into temptation’ and remain alert in the Word. If we do so, no matter how Satan may tempt us, we as God’s people will prevail.” Such is Pastor David Jang’s exhortation and his central viewpoint on Genesis 3 and 4. Unlike Lucifer, who fell through pride, Jesus humbled Himself to the utmost, being exalted by God “to the highest place.” The lesson for believers is plain: those who exalt themselves will ultimately be cast down to the pit, but those who humble themselves and exalt God will receive eternal life. May every believer hold fast to this truth, resist the test of pride, and bear the fruit worthy of God’s children.